Digital camera capable of image processing

ABSTRACT

In a digital camera, when a motion image reducing mode is set, a pointer is displayed on a monitor. When the operator operates on cursor key, the pointer moves, and when the operator operates a determination key at two different pointer positions, a rectangular frame is formed. Namely, the two pointer positions represent upper left and lower right coordinates of the frame. The picked up real time motion image is displayed in the rectangular frame. The displayed motion image is reduced to a magnification corresponding to the ratio of the rectangular frame with respect to the monitor frame. When the operator operates a shutter button at this time, the image in the motion image frame is recorded on a memory card. As the motion image is displayed in the motion image frame in accordance with the instruction by the operator and the image in the motion image frame is recorded in accordance with the operation of the shutter button, a processed image can be obtained without the necessity of preparing a separate image processing apparatus.

This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No.09/267,398 filed on Mar. 15, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,057,658 which isbased upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese PatentApplication Nos. 10-065051 filed on Mar. 16, 1998; 10-114909 filed onApr. 24, 1998; and 10-125089 filed on May 7, 1998, the entire contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a digital camera and, morespecifically, to a digital camera in which a picked up motion image or areproduced still image is displayed on a monitor.

2. Description of the Background Art

In a conventional digital camera of this type, an image recorded on arecording medium is reproduced and displayed on a built in monitor.

The prior art digital camera, however, is capable of simple reproductionof the recorded image, and in order to process the recorded image, aseparate image processing apparatus has been necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a digitalcamera capable of image processing without the necessity of preparing aseparate image processing apparatus.

According to an aspect, the present invention includes an image pickupsection for picking up an image of an object, a first forming sectionresponsive to a motion image frame forming instruction of an operatorfor forming a motion image frame smaller than a monitor frame on amonitor, and a motion image display section for displaying the motionimage of the object picked up by the image pickup section on the motionimage frame.

Therefore, a motion image is displayed on a desired frame formed on themonitor in accordance with the frame forming instruction by theoperator, and hence a processed image can be obtained without thenecessity of preparing a separate image processing apparatus.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a digitalcamera in which a first still image corresponding to the monitor frameis reproduced from a recording medium and displayed on the monitor,which includes a second still image reproducing section responsive to asynthesization instruction from the operator for reproducing a secondstill image smaller than the monitor frame from the recording medium,and a synthesizing section for synthesizing the second and the firststill images.

Therefore, the second still image smaller than the monitor frame issynthesized with the first still image in response to the synthesizationinstruction by the operator, and therefore a processed image can beobtained without the necessity of preparing the image processingapparatus.

According to a still further aspect, the present invention includes asetting section for setting a through image display area (an image ofthe object seen through) at a portion of the displayed reproduced image,an image synthesizing section for generating a synthesized image bydisplaying the through image on the set area, and a recording sectionfor recording the generated synthesized image. Therefore, the reproducedimage and the through image can be synthesized in a simple manner by adigital camera by itself, and a processed image can be obtained withoutthe necessity of preparing an image processing apparatus.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views showing appearance of the digitalcamera in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing configuration of an image recordingand reproducing circuit contained in the digital camera shown in FIGS.1A and 1B.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are illustrations representing image pickup modes of thedigital camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are illustrations representing the reproduction mode ofthe digital camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIGS. 5A to 5D are illustrations representing the image synthesizingfunction of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIGS. 6A to 6F represent a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram representing a configuration of an imagerecording and reproducing circuit contained in the digital camera inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a zoom circuitshown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a memory controlcircuit shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an addresscalculating section shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart representing part of an operation in a cameramode.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing another part of the operation in thecamera mode.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing a still further part of the operation inthe camera mode.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing a part of an operation in a reproductionmode.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing another part of the operation in thereproduction mode.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing a further part of the operation in thereproduction mode.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing a still further part of the operation inthe reproduction mode.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing a still further part of the operation inthe reproduction mode.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing a part of an operation in a motion imagereducing mode.

FIGS. 20A to 20F are illustrations representing an exemplary operationin the motion image reducing mode.

FIGS. 21A to 21F are illustrations representing another exemplaryoperation in the motion image reducing mode.

FIGS. 22A to 22E are illustrations representing an exemplary operationof a still image cutting mode.

FIGS. 23A to 23D are illustrations representing an exemplary operationin a still image pasting mode.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

FIG. 1A is a perspective view taken from the front side (from the sideof the lens) and FIG. 1B is a perspective view taken from the rear side,showing the appearance of the digital camera in accordance with thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, on the front side of the digital camera,there are provided a lens 1, a lens cover 2 linked to a power switch, anoptical finder 3, a flashlight 4 and an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 5 fora self timer, and on the upper and side surfaces, there are a shutterbutton 6, a three point type main switch 7, a macro switch lever 8 and aterminal 9. On the rear surface of the digital camera, there areprovided an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 10, a mode button 11, a setbutton 12, a direction designating button 13 and a microphone 14.

Main switch 7 is used for switching among three modes, that is, an imagepickup mode with LCD 10 on, an image pickup mode with LCD 10 off, and areproduction mode. In the image pickup mode with LCD 10 on, a throughimage is displayed on LCD 10 and the through image is recorded. In theimage pickup mode with LCD 10 off, image is picked up using opticalfinder 3 in the similar manner as the conventional camera using silverfilm. In the reproduction mode, LCD 10 is turned on and a reproducedimage is displayed on LCD 10. On LCD 10, in addition to the throughimage and the reproduced image, various icons (characters) representingrecording condition, reproduction function and so on are also displayed.

By pressing lightly each of left, right, up and down directiondesignating sections 13 a, 13 b, 13 c and 13 d of direction designatingbutton 13, feeding/reversing of the reproduced image, setting ofrecording condition, selection of reproduction function and so on can beset.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram representing a configuration of an imagerecording and reproducing circuit 20 contained in the digital camera.

Referring to FIG. 2, in image recording and reproducing circuit 20, asystem controller 41 applies various control signals to a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) 42 at prescribed timings, in response to signals fromlens cover 2, shutter button 6, main switch 7, macro switch lever 8,mode button 11, set button 12 and direction designating button 13. Inaccordance with the control signals applied from system controller 41,CPU 42 controls a memory control circuit 27 and a flash memory controlcircuit 47.

Memory control circuit 27 controls a first signal processing circuit 24,a second signal processing circuit 29, a JPEG (Joint Photographic ExpertGroup) circuit 44, buffers 25, 28, 43 and an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamicrandom Access Memory) 26. Write/read of image data to and from SDRAM 26are performed through buffers 25, 28 and 43. As the speed of transferbetween buffers 25, 28 and 43 and SDRAM 26 (write/read) is made fasterthan the speed of data transfer among buffers 25, 28, 43, the firstsignal processing circuit 24, the second signal processing circuit 29and JPEG circuit 44, the circuit 24, 29 and 44 can operate almostsimultaneously.

Memory control circuit 27 controls a character generator 30 and a switch31 so that a part of image data is replaced with a character image data,whereby a character image is overwritten on the through image or thereproduced image.

Flash memory control circuit 47 controls buffer 45 and flash memory 46,writes image data compressed by JPEG circuit 44 to flash memory 46through buffer 45, and applies data read from flash memory 46 to JPEGcircuit 44 through buffer 45.

In the image pickup mode, an optical image entering through lens 1 isincident on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) imager 21 through acomplementary color filter, not shown. CCD imager 21 outputs electricsignals (progressive scan signals) of pixels in accordance withprogressive scanning (progressive scanning of pixels). The progressivescan signals from CCD imager 21 is applied to a CDS/AGC (CorrelateDouble Sampling/Auto Gain Control) circuit 22.

CDS/AGC circuit performs known noise removal and level adjustment on theprogressive scan signals, and the progressive scan signals which havebeen subjected to such processings are converted to digital data (imagedata) by A/D converter 23. First signal processing circuit 24 performsknown white balance adjustment and gamma correction on the image dataoutput from A/D converter 23, and thereafter, applies the image data toSDRAM 26 through buffer 25.

Memory control circuit 27 writes the image data to SDRAM 26, andthereafter reads the image data by interlace scanning. Therefore,odd-numbered field image data and even-numbered field image data areoutput alternately from SDRAM 26. The image data output from SDRAM 26are input to second signal processing circuit 29 through buffer 28 andto JPG circuit 44 through buffer 43.

The second signal processing circuit 29 performs processing such ascolor interpolation on the input image data, and image data output fromsecond signal processing circuit 29 are applied to D/A converter 32through switch 31. D/A converter 32 converts the image data to analogsignals (image signals), which image signals are output through anoutput terminal 33 and applied to LCD 10. Therefore, real time motionimage (through image) 50 is displayed on LCD 10, as shown in FIG. 3A.

When mode button 11 is pressed in this state, various icons 51 to 59indicating the recording condition are displayed on an end portion ofLCD 10. In FIG. 3B, the icons are represented as a simple whiterectangle and hatched rectangles, for simplicity of the drawing.Actually, the icons are marks representing corresponding recordingconditions. Icons 51 to 59 are for setting a still image pickup mode,high speed continuous image pickup mode, resolution, voice memo, selftimer, macro mode display, exposure correction and digital zooming.Icons 51 to 59 are selected by direction designating button 13. Amongicons 51 to 59, the selected icon (in the figure, icon 51) is displayedin a positive state (white rectangle) and other icons are displayed in anegative state (hatched rectangles). When set button 12 is pressed inthis state, the condition represented by the selected icon (in thiscase, icon 51) is set (in this case, still image pickup mode). When modebutton 11 is pressed after the setting of recording conditions, icons 51to 59 disappear and the display returns to the state of FIG. 3A.

When an operator presses a shutter button 6, JPEG circuit 44 isactivated, image data read from SDRAM 26 and input to JPEG circuit 44through buffer 43 are compressed in accordance with a JPEG format, andthe compressed data is written to flash memory 46 through buffer 45. Ina reproduction mode, the compressed data read from flash memory 46 isinput to JPEG circuit 44 through buffer 45. JPEG circuit 44 decompressesthe input compressed data and applies the data to SDRAM 26 throughbuffer 43. Memory control circuit 27 writes the image data to SDRAM 26,and thereafter, read the image data by interlace scanning.

The image data read from SDRAM 26 are applied through buffer 28, secondsignal processing circuit 29 and switch 31 to D/A converter 32 andconverted to analog image signals. The analog image signals are outputto the outside through output terminal 33 and to LCD 10. Thus as shownin FIG. 4A, reproduced image 60 is displayed on LCD 10. When leftdirection designating section 13 a of direction designating button 13 ispressed, an image recorded prior to the reproduced image is reproduced,and when the right direction designating seciton1 3 b is pressed, animage recorded after the reproduced image is reproduced. In this manner,a desired image can be selected and reproduced.

When mode button 11 is pressed in this state, various icons 61 to 68representing reproducing functions are displayed on an end portion ofLCD 10 as shown in FIG. 4B. Icons 61 to 68 are for selectingreproduction mode, multireproduction, reproduction zooming, protection,erasure, image synthesization, card operation and setting of date andtime, respectively. A desired one of icons 61 to 68 is selected bydirection designating button 13 and when set button 12 is pressed, thefunction represented by the icon is selected. When mode button 11 ispressed without pressing set button 12, the display returns to the stateof FIG. 4A.

The image synthesizing function, which is the feature of the presentinvention, will be described. First, in the state shown in FIG. 4A,direction designating button 13 is used to feed/reverse the reproducedimage, and a desired reproduced image 60 as a background is selected.Thereafter, mode button 11 is pressed so that icons 61 to 68 aredisplayed as shown in FIG. 4B, icon 66 for image synthesization isselected by using direction designating button 13, and set button 12 ispressed.

In this manner, image synthesizing function is selected, and a verticalline L1 and a horizontal line L2 are displayed on reproduced image 60 asshown in FIG. 5A. When the left direction designating section 13A or theright direction designation section 13 b of direction designating button13 is pressed, the vertical line L1 moves to the left or the right, andwhen the upper direction designating section 13 c or the lower directiondesignating section 13 d is pressed, the horizontal line L2 moves upwardor downward. By moving the vertical line L1 and the horizontal line L2,position of a first point P1 which is an intersecting point of theselines is determined. The first point P1 is an upper left point of aframe F.

When set button 12 is pressed in this state, the first point P1 isdetermined as shown in FIG. 5B, and a vertical line L3 and a horizontalline L4 are further displayed on reproduced image 60. When the leftdirection designating section 13 a or the right direction designatingsection 13 b of direction designating button 13 is pressed, the verticalline L3 moves to the left or to the right, and when the upper directiondesignating section 13 c or the lower direction designating section 13 dis pressed, the horizontal line L4 moves upward or downward. Thevertical line L3 and the horizontal line L4 are movable on the lowerside and to the right of the first point P1. When one of the verticalline L3 and the horizontal line L4 is moved, the other of the verticalline L3 and the horizontal line L4 follows such that the aspect ratio ofthe frame F having L1 to L4 as its four sides is always kept at 3:4. Bymoving vertical line L3 and horizontal line L4, the position of thesecond point P2 which is an intersection of these lines is determined.The second point B2 is the lower right point of frame F.

When set button 12 is pressed in this state, the size and approximateposition of frame F is determined as shown in FIG. 5C. When thedirection designating section 13 a to 13 d of direction designatingbutton 13 is pressed, the frame F moves in the designated direction. Bymoving the frame F, the position of the frame F is determined.

When set button 12 is pressed in this state, a through image 50 isdisplayed in an area surrounded by the frame F, as shown in FIG. 5D. Atthis time, in the circuit 20 shown in FIG. 2, the through image datagenerated by A/D converter 23 is thinned out, that is, subjected to a socalled reduction zooming, by the first signal processing circuit 24conforming to the size and position of the frame F. The thinned outthrough image data are applied to SDRAM 26 through buffer 25, andoverwritten on that area of the reproduced still image data written inSDRAM 26 which corresponds to the area surrounded by the frame F. As thethrough image is a motion image, the overwriting data is successivelyupdated. In this manner, a window of a desired size and position isopened in the reproduced image 60, and through image 50 is displayed onthe window.

When shutter button 6 is pressed in this state, the image data of thesynthesized image displayed on the LCD 10 at that time are compressed byJPEG circuit 44 and written to flash memory 46 through buffer 45.Therefore, it becomes possible to reproduce the synthesized image in thesimilar manner as the still image picked up in the normal image pickupmode.

When mode button 11 is pressed in the state represented by FIGS. 5A to5D, the display returns to the state of FIG. 5A, and when mode button 11is pressed again in this state, the display returns to the state of FIG.3B.

In the present embodiment, the thinned out through image data areoverwritten on the reproduced image data at the time of imagesynthesization to produce a synthesized image. However, the embodimentis not limited thereto. For example, all the through image data and thereproduced image data may be separately written to memory areas of SDRAM26, the reproduced image data may be read outside the frame F and thethrough the image data may be read inside the frame F, to produce thesynthesized image.

Further, the vertical line L3 and the horizontal line L4 are moved withthe aspect ratio of the frame F having L1 to L4 as four sides is alwayskept at 3:4 in the above described embodiment. However, the ratio is notlimited, and the position of the second point P2 may be set regardlessof the ratio of 3:4.

FIGS. 6A to 6F represent a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6A shows a reproduced image displayed on LCD 10, and FIG. 6B showsthe through image. In the embodiment described above, when set button 12is pressed after the position of frame F is determined, through image 50which has been thinned out and reduced in size is displayed in the areasurrounded by frame F as shown in FIG. 6D.

By contrast, in this modification, when set button 12 is pressedcontinuously, only a part of the through image corresponding to theframe extracted from the whole image is displayed as shown in FIG. 6C,without thinning out as shown in FIG. 6D.

Further, when the position of the first point P1 is determined by movingthe vertical line L1 and the horizontal line L2, the color of thevertical and horizontal lines L1 and L2 may be changed from white toorange, for example, and when the aspect ratio of frame F is set at 3:4by moving the vertical line L3 and the horizontal line L4, the color ofthe vertical and horizontal lines L3 and L4, represented by the doublelines in FIG. 6E, may be changed from white to green, for example, asrepresented by a thick black line in FIG. 6F.

Second Embodiment

In the present embodiment, when a motion image reducing mode is set, apointer is displayed on the monitor. When the operator operates a cursorkey, the pointer moves, and when the operator operates a determinationkey at two different pointer positions, a rectangular frame is formed.More specifically, the two pointer positions present the upper left andlower right coordinates of the frame. The picked up real time motionimage is displayed in the rectangular frame. The displayed motion imageis reduced to a magnification corresponding to the ratio of therectangular frame with respect to the monitor frame. In the portion ofthe monitor frame outside the rectangular frame, a still imagereproduced from the recording medium may be displayed. When the operatoroperates the shutter button in this state, the image in the monitorframe is recorded on the recording medium.

Further, when a still image paste mode is set with the reproduced stillimage being displayed on the monitor, a partial still image recordedseparately is synthesized with the still image which is displayedoriginally. When the cursor key is operated in the upward/downwarddirection, display of the partial still image is switched, and when thecursor key is operated in the left/write direction, the still imagedisplayed below the partial image is switched. When the shutter buttonis operated, the synthesized image which is being displayed is recordedon the recording medium.

This embodiment will be described in detail with reference to thefigures.

Referring to FIG. 7, the digital camera 70 in accordance with thepresent embodiment includes a lens 71. An incident optical image of theobject enters CCD imager 72 through lens 71. CCD imager 72 has 640pixels and 480 lines of pixels in the horizontal and verticaldirections.

When a mode setting switch 87 is set to the side of the camera, a systemcontroller 85 sets camera mode in CPU 83 through an interruptionterminal 83. At this time, CPU 83 designates reading of pixel signals(camera signals) to timing generator 84, and timing generator 84 readscamera signals in ruster scan method, from CCD imager 72. The readcamera signals are converted to digital signals (camera data) by an A/Dconverter 73, and the converted camera data are input to a signalprocessing circuit 74. In front of CCD imager 72, a complementary colorfilter, not shown, is attached, and pixels of the input camera data eachhas only one complementary color component of Ye, Cy, Mg or G.Therefore, signal processing circuit 74 performs color separation on theinput camera data, and RGB data obtained through color separation aresubjected to YUV conversion.

The YUV data obtained in this manner, that is, the image data issubjected to a prescribed zooming process by a zoom circuit 75, input toDRAM 81 through a bus 76 and written to a video memory area 81 a inaccordance with ruster scan method. Video area 81 a has a capacitycorresponding to a frame of monitor 80 (monitor frame), and image dataoutput from zoom circuit 75 are written to the video memory area 81 byDMA (Direct Memory Access). More specifically, CPU 83 applies, togetherwith a write request, the frame data, that is, the X and Y coordinatesat the upper left corner of the frame as well as the data of horizontaland vertical sizes (X size and Y size) to memory control circuit 78, andin accordance with the frame data, memory control circuit 78 writes theimage data at a prescribed position of video memory area 81 a. In thenormal camera mode, frame data of the monitor frame are input to memorycontrol circuit 78. The upper left coordinates of the monitor frame are(0, 0), and the horizontal and vertical sizes are 640 pixels and 480lines, respectively. Therefore, image data are written in the full videomemory area 81 a.

After the completion of writing, the image data of video memory area 81a are read in accordance with the ruster scan method by memory controlcircuit 78, and applied to a video encoder 79 through a bus 76. Videoencoder 79 encodes the input image data in accordance with NTSC method,and the resulting composite video signals are output to monitor 80 whichalso serves as a view finder. The motion picture picked up by CCD imager72 is displayed fully on the monitor frame. A buffer, not shown, isprovided at an input/output port of DRAM 81, and transfer rate of theimage data is converted. Therefore, writing and reading of image datacan be executed in parallel.

When the operator operates the shutter button 89 in the normal cameramode, CPU 83 instructs timing generator 84 to stop reading of charges.Thus new reading of image data from CCD imager 72 is stopped, and imagedata at the time point when shutter button 89 is pressed is keptmaintained in video memory area 81. CPU 83 reads the image data fromvideo memory area 81 a by DMA, and inputs the data to acompression/decompression circuit 77 through a bus 76. At the same time,CPU 83 applies a compression instruction to compression/decompressioncircuit 77. Compression/decompression circuit 77 compresses the inputimage data in accordance with the JPEG method, stores the compressedimage data in an image file, and applies the image file to a memory card82. To memory card 82, a write instruction is also applied from CPU 83,and the image file output from compression/decompression circuit 87 isrecorded on memory card 82.

When the operator sets the mode setting switch 87 to the reproducingside, system controller 85 sets CPU 83 in the reproduction mode. Inresponse, CPU 83 reproduces a desired image file from memory card 82,and applies the image file to compression/decompression circuit 77through bus 76. A decompression instruction from CPU 83 is also appliedto compression/decompression circuit 77. Compression/decompressioncircuit 77 decompresses the image data of the input image file inaccordance with the JPEG method, and inputs the decompressed image data,that is, the reproduced image data to DRAM 81. In order to write thereproduced image data to video memory area 81 a, a write request isapplied from compression/decompression circuit 77 to memory controlcircuit 78, and frame data defining the position of writing is appliedfrom CPU 83 to memory control circuit 78.

In accordance with the write request and the frame data, memory controlcircuit 78 writes the reproduced image data to video memory area 81 a.When writing is completed, CPU 83 inputs the same frame data and a readrequest to memory control circuit 78 and, in response, memory controlcircuit 78 reads the reproduced image data from video memory area 81 a.The read reproduced image data is applied to video encoder 79 and,finally, the reproduced still image is displayed on monitor 80.

Zoom circuit 75 is configured as shown in FIG. 8. Image data output fromsignal processing circuit 74 is written to a line memory 75 a inresponse to a pixel clock and thereafter read, delayed by one line bythe same pixel clock. The read image data is again written to anotherline memory 75 b and read delayed by one line. Therefore, from linememories 75 a and 75 b, image data of continuos two lines are outputsimultaneously. The image data output from line memory 75 a is directlyinput to a multiplier 75 g and in addition, input to a multiplier 75 fdelayed by one pixel by latch circuit 75 c. Image data output from linememory 75 b is directly input to multiplier 22 i and input to multiplier75 h delayed by one pixel by latch circuit 75 d.

To multipliers 75 g and 75 i, a decimal of the numerical value dataoutput from an adder 75 y is input, and to multipliers 75 f and 75 h, acomplement obtained by subtracting the decimal from “1.0” by asubtracter 75 e is input. Therefore, the image data applied tomultipliers 75 g and 75 i are weighted by the decimal while the imagedata applied to multipliers 75 f and 75 h are weighted by thecomplement. Outputs of multipliers 75 f and 75 g are added by an adder75 j, while outputs of multipliers 75 h and 75 i are added by an adder75 k. By such multiplexing and adding operations, the image data aresubjected to horizontal zooming.

The added data output from adders 75 j and 75 k are input to multipliers75 n and 75 p. A decimal of the numerical value data output from adder75 z is input to a multiplier 75 p, and a complement obtained bysubtracting the decimal from “1.0” by a subtracter 75 m is input to amultiplier 75 n. Thus the added data output from adder 75 j ismultiplied by the complement, while the added data output from adder 75k is multiplied by the decimal. Thereafter, the outputs from multipliers75 n and 75 p are added by an adder 75 q, whereby image data subjectedto zooming both in the horizontal and vertical directions are obtained.

The numerical value data output from adders 75 y and 75 z are calculatedin the following manner. CPU 83 inputs X size data and Y size dataincluded in the frame data to an H counter 75 r and a V counter 75 s,respectively. Thus the X size is the maximum count value of H counter 75r, and Y size is the maximum count number of V counter 75 s. H counter75 r is incremented by the output of an AND circuit 75 x, outputs acarry signal at the maximum count value, and is reset by a horizontalsynchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal. V counter 75 sis incremented by the carry signal output from H counter 75 r and resetby the vertical synchronizing signal. An output from AND circuit 75 x isa clock which rises at the timing of each pixel constituting the zoomimage, that is, a zoom pixel clock. Based on the zoom pixel clock, thehorizontal pixel number and the vertical pixel number of the zoom imageare counted by the H and V counters 75 r and 75 s.

A divider 75 t divides the count value of H counter 75 r by a horizontalzoom magnification output from CPU 83, and a divider 75 u divides thecount value of V counter 75 s by the vertical zoom magnification outputfrom CPU 83. The result of division by divider 75 t is added to Xcoordinate data included in the frame data by adder 75 y, whereas theresult of division by divider 75 u is added to Y coordinate dataincluded in the frame data by adder 75 j. The results of adders 75 y and75 z represent which horizontal position and which vertical position ofthe original image the zoom pixel output from adder 75 q at presentcorrespond to. The horizontal position data and vertical position dataof the original image are output from adders 75 y and 75 z, the decimalof the horizontal position data is input to subtracter 75 e, multipliers75 g and 75 i and the decimal of the vertical position data is input tosubtracter 75 m and multiplier 75 p.

Integers of the horizontal and vertical position data output from adders75 y and 75 z are input to comparators 75 v and 75 w. A horizontal countvalue which represents the count of horizontal pixel number of theoriginal image is input to comparator 75 v, and a vertical count valuerepresenting the count of vertical pixel number of the original image isinput to comparator 75 w. Comparators 75 v and 75 w output a match pulsewhen input to numerical values match each other. AND circuit 75 xprovides logical product of match pulses output from comparators 75 band 75 w and outputs a logical product signal (AND signal) as a zoompixel clock. The zoom pixel clock is input to memory control circuit 78,and memory control circuit 78 writes only the pixel data output fromadder 75 q simultaneously with zoom pixel clock to DRAM 81. Thus imagedata of a desired zoom magnification is obtained in the DRAM 81. Here,the original image refers to an image of the object entering the CCDimager 72, and the original image data is obtained from signalprocessing circuit 74.

Memory control circuit 78 is configured as shown in FIG. 9. X size dataand Y size data included in the frame data are loaded to decoders 93 and94, respectively, and X coordinate data and Y coordinate data are loadedto an address operating circuit 95. Address operating circuit 95 isconfigured as shown in FIG. 10, and X coordinate data and Y coordinatedata are loaded to registers 105 and 106, more specifically. In thenormal camera mode, decoders 93 and 94 hold numerical value data of“640” and “480”, and registers 105 and 106 both hold numerical valuedata of “0”. The numerical value data held in registers 105 and 106 areupdated at the input timing of vertical synchronizing pulse V_(sync).

An H counter 91 is incremented by the zoom pixel clock input from zoomcircuit 75, and count value of H counter 91 (horizontal count value) isinput to address operating circuit 95 and decoder 93. Decoder 93compares the input horizontal count value with “640”, and when thesematch each other, outputs a match pulse. H counter 91 is reset by thematch pulse, and V counter 92 is incremented by the match pulse. Thecounter value of V counter 92 (vertical count value) is applied toaddress operating circuit 95 and decoder 94, and decoder 94 resets Vcounter 92 when the vertical count value matches “480”. In this manner,H counter 91 is reset when pixels corresponding to the X size of theframe is counted, and V counter 92 is reset when lines corresponding tothe Y size of the frame is counted.

Referring to FIG. 10, the horizontal and vertical count values areapplied to adders 101 and 102 provided in address operating circuit 95.Adder 101 adds the horizontal count value to the X coordinate data heldin register 105, while adder 102 adds the vertical count value to Ycoordinate data held in register 106. The result of addition of adder102 is thereafter applied to a multiplier 103 and multiplier 103multiplies the input result of addition by the numerical value data“640” held in register 107. Adder 104 adds the result of addition byadder 101 to the result of multiplication by multiplier 103. Morespecifically, address operating circuit 95 generates an address signalby an operation represented by the following equation (1).Address=(Horizontal Count Value+Upper Left X Coordinate)+(Vertical CountValue+Left Y Coordinate)×640  (1)

Controller 96 receives the address signal from address operating circuit95 and a write/read request from CPU 83 or compression/decompressioncircuit 77, and outputs an address signal, W/R signal and an enablesignal to DRAM 81. More specifically, controller 96 outputs the addresssignal from address operating circuit 95 as it is, and sets the enablesignal to the high level at the same time. When a write request isapplied, the controller sets the W/R signal to the high level, and whena read request is applied, sets the W/R signal to the low level. By suchaddress signal, W/R signal and enable signal, an access to the desiredaddress of video memory area 81 a is performed. Memory control circuit78 operates in the above described manner based on the frame data fromCPU 83, and forms a desired frame on video memory area 81 a, andtherefore, on monitor 80.

CPU 83 performs the processing represented by the flow chart of FIGS. 11to 13 when the mode setting switch 87 is set to the side of the camera,and performs the process represented by the flow chart of FIGS. 14 to 18when the mode setting switch 87 is set to the reproducing side. Further,CPU 83 processes the subroutine represented by FIG. 19, as needed.

When the camera mode is set, CPU 83 initializes horizontal zoommagnification, vertical zoom magnification and frame data in step S1 ofFIG. 11. At this time, zoom magnification is set to 1 both in thevertical and horizontal directions. As to the frame size, X and Y sizesare set to “640” and “480”, and X and Y coordinates are both set to “0”.Therefore, from zoom circuit 75, the picked up image data is output withthe zoom magnification of 1, and an instruction is given to memorycontrol circuit 78 so that a motion picture frame corresponding to themonitor frame is formed. CPU 83 instructs timing generator 84 to readcharges in step S2, that is, enables CCD imager 72 in step S2, andthereafter, in step S3, outputs a write request to memory controlcircuit 78 so that image data of one frame are written from zoom circuit75 to video memory area 81 a. As a result, a motion image framecorresponding to the monitor frame is formed on video memory area 81 a,and image data are written to the motion image frame.

In step S5, CPU 83 applies a read request to memory control circuit 78and reads all image data from video memory area 81 a. Consequently, areal time object image is displayed fully on the monitor frame. Morespecifically, a motion image frame of the same size as the monitor frameis formed on monitor 80, and the picked up motion image is displayed onthe motion image frame. Thereafter, in steps S7 and S9, CPU 83determines whether a motion image reducing mode is set or not andwhether shutter button 89 is pressed or not. If the answer in each stepis “NO”, the flow returns to step S3. Therefore, unless the operatorperforms any key operation, the processes of steps S3 and S5 arerepeated, and a motion image is continuously displayed on monitor 80.

When the operator operates shutter button 89 with the motion image beingoutput from monitor 80, CPU 83 determines that the answer of step S9 is“YES”, and in step S24 of FIG. 13, CPU 83 instructs timing generator 84to stop reading of charges. Thus CCD imager 72 is disabled, and imagedata at the time point when shutter button 89 is pressed is maintainedin video memory area 81 a. Thereafter, CPU 38 reads the image data fromvideo memory area 81 a in step S25, applies the data tocompression/decompression circuit 77 and performs JPEG compression. Instep S25, in addition to reading of image data, a compressioninstruction is applied to compression/decompression circuit 77, wherebythe image data is compressed.

In step S27, whether the present operation mode is the motion imagereducing mode or not is determined. If it is “NO”, then in steps S30 andS31, an instruction to form a pic file and an instruction to store thecompressed image data to the pic file are applied tocompression/decompression circuit 77, respectively. In step S31, writingof the size data of the motion image frame to the pic file is alsoinstructed. Therefore, the image data picked up in the normal cameramode are stored in the image file “pic000P.jpg” having an identifier“pic” added thereto (where P is an integer), and the size data of themotion image frame is written to the header portion of the image file.CPU 83 records such a pic file in memory card 82 in step S33, and theflow returns to step S1. In step S33, memory card 82 is instructed towrite the image file.

When the operator sets the motion image reducing mode by the operationof a menu, CPU 83 determines it is “YES” in step S7, disables CCD imager72 in step S10 of FIG. 12, and performs frame determining process instep S11.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 19, in step S119, pointer data isread from character area 81 b of DRAM 81, and the pointer is displayedon monitor 80. Thereafter, in steps S121 and S125, operations of cursorkeys 86 a to 86 d and determination key 88 are monitored, respectively.When any of cursor keys 86 a to 86 d is operated, CPU 83 determines thatit is “YES” in step S121, changes the position of display of the pointerin accordance with the key operation in step S123, and the flow returnsto step S119. When determination key 88 is operated, whether flag 83 ais set or not is determined in step S127. If flag 83 a is not set, CPU83 determines the present pointer position as an upper left coordinatesof the motion image frame in step S129, sets flag 83 a in step S131, andthe flow returns to step S119.

When it is determined in step S127 that flag 83 a is set, CPU 83determines the present pointer position as the lower right coordinatesof the motion image frame in step S133. In step S135, flag 83 a isreset, and in step S137, the X and Y sizes of the motion image frame arecalculated in. accordance with the following equation (2). Morespecifically, by subtracting the upper left X coordinate from the lowerright X coordinate of the motion image frame, the X size is calculated,and by subtracting the upper left Y coordinate from the lower right Ycoordinate of the motion image frame, the Y size is calculated.X size=lower right X coordinate—upper left X coordinateY size=lower right Y coordinate—upper left Y coordinateUpper left X coordinate: X coordinate at an upper left vertex ofrectangular frameUpper left Y coordinate: Y coordinate at the upper left vertex ofrectangular frameLower right X coordinate: X coordinate at a lower right vertex ofrectangular frameLower right Y coordinate: Y coordinate at the lower right vertex of therectangular frame  (2)

Returning to FIG. 12, in step S12, zoom magnification of the motionimage is calculated in accordance with the following equation (3). Thecalculated zoom magnification is set in the zoom circuit 75. Morespecifically, the Z size of the calculated motion image frame is dividedby the X size of the monitor frame to calculate the horizontal zoommagnification, and the Y size of the calculated motion image frame isdivided by the Y size of the monitor frame to calculate the verticalzoom magnification.Horizontal zoom magnification=X size of the motion image frame/X size ofthe monitor frameVertical zoom magnification=Y size of the motion image frame/Y size ofthe monitor frame  (3)

Thereafter, in step S13, the size data and the upper left coordinatedata of the frame obtained in step S11 and the zoom magnificationcalculated in step S12 are set in zoom circuit 75. In this manner, thedata of reduced image which has been reduced in size to be within themotion image frame are generated.

Thereafter, in step S14, CPU 83 instructs timing generator 84 to readcharges, and enables CCD imager 72. In step S15, CPU 83 applies a writerequest to memory control circuit 78, and data of X and Y sizes andupper left X and Y coordinates calculated in step S11, that is, framedata of the motion image frame are applied to memory control circuit 78.Accordingly, a desired motion image frame is formed in video memory area81 a, and the reduced image data output from zoom circuit 75 is writtento the motion image frame. In step S17, CPU 83 applies a read requestand the initial frame data to memory control circuit 78, and all imagedata stored in video memory area 81 a are read. Accordingly, the reducedmotion image and gray image are displayed on monitor 80. Morespecifically, the reduced motion image is displayed on the motion imageframe formed on monitor 80, and on the portion other than the motionimage frame of the monitor frame, gray image is displayed. When themotion is image frame formed by the operator has an aspect ratiodifferent from that of the monitor frame, the reduced motion imagedisplayed is distorted in the horizontal or vertical direction.

CPU 83 monitors operations of cursor keys 86 a to 86 d and shutterbutton 89 in steps S19 and S23, and when none of these is operated,repeats the processes of steps S15 and S17. Thus the reduced motionimage is displayed in the motion image frame. When any of cursor keys 86a to 86 d is operated, the image data in video memory area 81 a iscleared in step S21, the X and Y coordinates data contained in the framedata, that is, the upper left coordinate data of the motion image frameare updated, and thereafter the flow returns to step S15. In thismanner, the write position of reduced image data is changed, and as aresult, the motion image frame displayed on monitor 80 moves.

When shutter button 89 is operated, CPU 83 disables CCD imager 72 instep S24, and performs JPEG compression on the reduced image data at thetime when the shutter button 89 is pressed, in step S25. At this time,CPU 83 applies a read request and the frame data of the motion imageframe to memory control circuit 78, and instructscompression/decompression circuit 77 to perform JPEG compression.Therefore, only the image data within the motion image frame arecompressed. In step S27, whether the present operation mode is themotion image reducing mode or not is determined and if it is “YES”, theninstruction to form an image file “syn000S.jpg” (where S is an integer)with an identifier “syn” is applied to compression/decompression circuit77 in step S28, and an instruction to store the compressed image data tosyn file and to write the size data of the motion image frame to the synfile is applied to compression/decompression circuit 77 in step S29.Accordingly, the image data of a frame smaller than the monitor frame isstored in the syn file, and size data of the motion image frame iswritten to the header portion of the syn file. CPU 83 stores the synfile storing the image data in this manner in memory card 82 in stepS33, and the flow returns to step S1.

When the camera mode is set, a motion image of the object is displayedon monitor 80 as shown in FIG. 20A, for example. When the operator setsthe motion image reducing mode here, display of the object disappears asshown in FIG. 20B, and, instead, a cross shaped pointer is displayed onmonitor 80. The pointer moves on the screen in accordance with theoperation of cursor keys 86 a to 86 d. When the operator operates thedetermination key 88 at the pointer position shown in FIG. 20B, thepointer position serves as the upper left coordinates of the motionimage frame. After the upper left coordinates are determined, display ofthe pointer continuous, and the pointer moves on the screen inaccordance with the operation of cursor keys 86 a to 86 d. When theoperator moves the pointer to a position represented in FIG. 20C andpresses determination key 88, the pointer position will be the lowerright coordinates of the motion image frame. In this manner, theposition and the size of the motion image frame are determined. Then,the motion image frame is formed on monitor 80, and the motion image ofthe object is reduced and displayed on the motion image frame. Thedisplay position of the reduced motion image moves by operating cursorkeys 86 a to 86 d after the reduced motion image is displayed, as shownin FIG. 20E. When the operator presses shutter button 89 while thereduced motion image is being displayed on monitor 80, only the image inthe motion image frame is recorded on memory card 82 as shown in FIG.20F.

When the operator sets the mode setting switch 87 to the reproducingside, CPU 83 performs the processing represented by the flow chart ofFIGS. 14 to 18. First, in step S35, zoom magnification and the framedata are initialized, and in step S37, the pic file is reproduced frommemory card 82. In step S37, a read instruction is applied to memorycard 82 so that the latest pic file is read, and the compressed imagedata stored in the pic file are decompressed bycompression/decompression circuit 77. When decompression is completed, awrite request of decompressed image data is input fromcompression/decompression circuit 77 to memory control circuit 78. CPU83 inputs initial frame data to memory control circuit 78 at the sametiming as the write request in step S38, so that the decompressed imagedata is written to video memory area 81 a. In this manner, a still imageframe corresponding to the monitor frame is formed in video memory area81 a, and the decompressed image data, that is, the reproduced stillimage data are written to the still image frame.

Thereafter, CPU 83 applies the initial frame data and the read requestto memory control circuit 78 in step S39, and reads the reproduced imagedata from video memory area 81 a. Accordingly, the reproduced image isdisplayed on monitor 80. Thereafter, CPU 83 monitors operation of cursorkey 86 c or 86 d, and monitors whether the motion image reducing mode, astill image cutting mode and a still image paste mode is set or not insteps S45, S47 and S49, respectively. When there is no key operation andno mode setting, CPU 83 repeats the operation of step S39, andaccordingly, the same still image is continuously displayed on monitor80.

When cursor key 86 c or 86 d is operated, CPU 83 reproduces another picfile from memory card 82 in step S43, and thereafter returns to stepS39. In this case also, CPU 83 applies a read instruction to memory card82 to read a desired pic file, and the compressed image stored in thepic file is decompressed by compression/decompression circuit 77. Thedecompressed image data are overwritten on video memory area 81 a instep S38. Thus the reproduced image to be displayed on monitor 80 isupdated. When the motion image reducing mode is selected, the flowproceeds to step S51, when the still image cutting mode is selected, theflow proceeds to step S73, and when the still image paste mode isselected, the flow proceeds to step S88.

When the motion image reducing mode is set, CPU 83 performs the processof determining the motion image frame in accordance with the subroutineshown in FIG. 19 in step S51, and calculates the zoom magnification inaccordance with the above equation (3) in step S53. In step S54, theupper left coordinates data, the size data and the zoom magnificationare set in zoom circuit 75. Accordingly, a reduced image datacorresponding to the size of the motion image frame are output from zoomcircuit 75. CPU 83 further sets the frame data of the motion image framedetermined in step 51 and the write request to memory control circuit 78in step S55, and the reduced image data are written to the motion imageframe formed on video memory area 81 a. Accordingly, on the reproducedimage data which has been already written to the video memory area 81 a,the reduced image data are synthesized. Thereafter, CPU 83 applies theread request and the initial frame data to memory control circuit 78 instep S57, reads all the image data stored in DRAM 81 and outputs thedata through monitor 80. When operator operates none of cursor keys 86 ato 86 d and shutter button 89, CPU 83 repeats the processes of steps S55and S57. Consequently, a motion image is displayed on the motion imageframe formed on monitor 80, and on a portion of the monitor frame otherthan the motion image frame, a still image is displayed.

When the operator operates any of cursor keys 86 a to 86 d, CPU 83determines that it is “YES” in step S59. In step S61, the same pic fileas the last time is reproduced from memory card 82, the initial framedata is input to memory control circuit 78 in step S62 and thereproduced image data are written to video memory area 81 a. In stepS63, the upper left X and Y coordinates of the motion image frame areupdated, and the flow returns to step S55. In step S55, the reducedimage data are written to the motion image frame of which position hasbeen moved, and in step S57, all the image data in video memory area 81a are read. In this manner, as reproduction of the pic file is repeatedevery time the cursor keys 86 a to 86 d is operated, the still image isnot missed after the motion image frame is moved.

When the operator operates shutter button 89, CPU 83 determines that itis “YES” in step S65, and performs JPEG compression on all the imagedata stored in video memory area 81 a in step S67. At this time, CPU 83applies the read request and the initial frame data to memory controlcircuit 78, and applies the compression instruction tocompression/decompression circuit 77. Consequently, compressed imagedata are generated. Thereafter, in step S68, instruction to form a picfile is applied, and in step S6, instruction to store the compressedimage data to the pic file and writing of the frame data of the monitorframe are applied. Thereafter, in step S71, the pic file in which thecompressed image data are stored is stored in memory card 82, and theflow returns to step S35.

When the motion image reducing mode is set with the reproduced imagebeing displayed on monitor 80 as shown in FIG. 21A, a pointer isdisplayed on monitor 80 as shown in FIG. 21B. The pointer also moves inaccordance with the operation of cursor keys 86 a to 86 d, and inaccordance with the operation of determination key 70, the upper leftand lower right coordinates of the motion image frame are determined.When the determination key is operated at the positions shown in FIGS.21B and 21C, the motion image frame is formed as shown in FIG. 21D,within which the reduced motion image of the object is displayed. Theformed motion image frame moves on the screen in accordance with theoperation of cursor keys 86 a to 86 d. As the still image is reproducedrepeatedly in accordance with the operation of cursor keys 86 a to 86 d,the still image which has been covered by the motion image frame beforemovement is not missed even when the motion image frame is moved. Whenthe shutter button 89 is pressed after the motion image frame is movedto the position represented by FIG. 21E, all the images displayed arestored in the memory card 82 as shown in FIG. 21F.

Returning to FIG. 14, when it is determined in step S47 that the stillimage cutting mode is set, CPU 83 processes the subroutine shown in FIG.19 in step S73 of FIG. 16, and determines the still image frame. In stepS75, still image data are read from video memory area 81 a, andcharacter data of the still image frame are read from character area 81b and output to monitor 80. Accordingly, a still image frame issynthesized and displayed on the still image. When the operator operatescursor keys 86 a to 86 d, CPU 83 determines that it is “YES” in stepS77, and updates the upper left coordinate data of the still image framein step S79. More specifically, the X and Y coordinates of the framedata to be applied to memory control circuit 78 are updated. Thereafter,the flow returns to step S75. Accordingly, the still image frame moveson monitor 80. When the operator operates shutter button 89, CPU 83applies the image data in the still image frame tocompression/decompression circuit 77 in step S83 and performs JPEGcompression thereon. Thereafter, a syn file is formed in step S84, andthe compressed image data are stored in the syn file in step S85. Instep S87, the sun file storing the compressed image data is stored inmemory card 82, and the flow returns to step S35.

When the still image cutting mode is set with the still image reproducedfrom memory card 82 being displayed as shown in FIG. 22A, a pointer isdisplayed as shown in FIG. 22B. When the cursor keys 86 a to 86 d anddetermination key 88 are operated in the similar manner as describedabove, the upper left and lower right coordinates of the still imageframe are determined. The still image frame is displayed on monitor 80as shown in FIG. 22D. The still image frame moves in the monitor framein accordance with the operation of cursor keys 86 a to 86 d. Whenshutter button 89 is pressed with the still image frame being displayedas shown in FIG. 22D, only the partial still image within the stillimage frame is stored in memory card 82 as shown in FIG. 22E.

Returning to FIG. 14, if it is determined in step S49 that the stillimage paste mode is selected, CPU 83 reads any of the syn files frommemory card 82 in step S88 shown in FIG. 17, and detects the frame sizedata of the partial image data stored therein from the header of the synfile. Further, CPU 83 determines the upper left coordinate of the stillimage frame such that the partial still image is displayed at the centerof the monitor frame, in step S89. When the frame data of the stillimage frame is determined in this manner, CPU 83 reproduces the same synfile in step S90. More specifically, the same syn file is read frommemory card 82, and the compressed image data contained in the, read synfile are decompressed by the compression/decompression circuit 77.Thereafter, the decompressed image data are written to video memory area81 a in step S91. At the time of writing to the video memory area 81 a,CPU 83 applies a write request and the frame data determined in stepsS88 and S89 to memory control circuit 78. Accordingly, the still imageframe is formed in video memory area 81 a, and the decompressed partialstill image data are written to the still image frame.

In step S91, the read request and the initial frame data are applied tomemory control circuit 78, and all the image data in the video memoryarea 81 a are output to monitor 80. Accordingly, on the still imagedisplayed before the setting of the still image paste mode, the stillimage frame is formed, and the partial still image newly reproduced frommemory card 82 is synthesized within the still image frame. Whenoperator operates cursor key 86 a or 86 b at this time, the partialstill image is switched. CPU 83 reproduces the same pic file as the lasttime in step S94, inputs the initial frame data to memory controlcircuit 78 in step S95. and writes the reproduced image data to videomemory area 81 a. In steps S96 and S97, processes similar to those insteps S88 and S89 are performed, and the frame data of the still imageframe are updated. Thereafter, another syn file is reproduced in stepS97, and the flow returns to step S91. If the partial still image to bereproduced this time is smaller than the partial still image reproducedlast time, part of the still image displayed behind the partial stillimage will be lost. Therefore, the same pic file is reproduced first,and thereafter another syn file is reproduced.

When cursor key 86 c or 86 d is operated by the operator, the stillimage displayed behind the partial still image is updated. At this time,CPU 83 determines that it is “YES” in step S99, and another pic file inaccordance with the key operation is reproduced in step S100, and thereproduced image data are written to video memory area 81 a in stepS101. Thereafter, the same syn file is reproduced in step S102 and theflow returns to step S91. In this manner, desired two still images canbe selected.

When determination key 88 is pressed with desired two still images beingdisplayed, CPU 83 determines that it is “YES” in step 103, and the flowproceeds to step S105. In step S105, all the image data of video memoryarea 81 a are output to monitor 80 as in step S91. Thereafter, in stepS106, whether any of cursor keys 86 a to 86 d is operated or not isdetermined and if it is “YES”, the upper left coordinates of the framedata to be applied to memory control circuit 78 are updated in stepS108. Thereafter, the same pic file as the last time is reproduced instep S109, and the reproduced image data are written to the video memoryarea 81 a in accordance with the initial frame data in step S110.Thereafter, in step S111, the same syn file as the last time isreproduced in step S111, and the reproduced image data, that is, thepartial still image data are written to the still image frame which hasbeen moved, in step S112. In step S112, the updated frame data and thewrite request are applied to memory control circuit 78 in the similarmanner as described above, and the partial still image data are writtento the form still image frame. Thereafter, the flow returns to stepS105. In this manner, the display position of the partial still image ischanged in accordance with the key operation.

When the operator operates the shutter button 89, CPU 83 performscompression processing on all the image data stored in video memory area81 a in step S113, a pic file is formed in step S114, and the compressedimage data are stored in the pic file in step S115. Thereafter, the picfile storing the compressed image data is stored in the memory card 82in step S117, and the flow returns to step S35.

When the still image paste mode is set with the still image reproducedfrom the pic file being displayed on monitor 80, the partial still imagereproduced from the syn file is synthesized with the still image of thepic file as shown in FIG. 23B. When cursor key 86 a or 86 b is operatedin this state, the partial still image is switched, and when cursor key86 c or 86 d is operated, the still image behind the partial still imageis switched. When the any of cursor keys 86 a to 86 d is operated afterthe two images to be synthesized are determined, the partial still imageis moved as shown in FIG. 23C. When shutter button 89 is pressed withthe partial still image being arranged at a desired position, all thestill images displayed are recorded on memory card 82, as shown in FIG.23D.

Though the reduced motion image is displayed in the motion image framein the present embodiment, a motion image with the magnification of one(1) may be displayed in the motion image frame. More specifically, onlya part of the motion image displayed in the monitor frame in the normalcamera mode may be displayed in the motion image frame. In that case,the motion image displayed changes in accordance with the position ofthe motion image frame.

Further, through the motion image frame and the still image frame areformed to have a rectangle shape in the present embodiment, the motionimage frame and the still image frame may be circular. In that case, thesize of the frame can be identified by the radius of the circle, and theposition of the frame can be specified by the coordinates of the center.

Althrough the present invention has been described and illustrated indetail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustrationand example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spiritand scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms ofthe appended claims.

1. A digital camera comprising: a reproducing unit responsive to areproduction instruction by an operator for reproducing a still imagefrom a recording medium, a first forming unit responsive to saidreproduction instruction for forming a still image frame equal to arectangular monitor frame on a monitor, a still image display unitdisplaying said still image in said still image frame, an image pickupunit picking up an image of an object, a second forming unit responsiveto a motion image frame forming instruction by said operator for forminga rectangular motion image frame smaller than said monitor frame on saidmonitor, a motion image display unit displaying a motion image of saidobject picked up by said image pickup unit in said motion image frame,and a recording unit responsive to a recording instruction by saidoperator for recording an image in said monitor frame on said recordingmedium, wherein said second forming unit includes an input unit forreceiving, as inputs, arbitrary position information, arbitraryhorizontal size information and arbitrary vertical size information ofsaid motion image frame, and a motion image frame forming unit forforming said motion image frame on said monitor based on said positioninformation, said horizontal size information, and said vertical sizeinformation, wherein said motion image display unit includes a firstcalculating unit for calculating a horizontal zoom magnification of saidmotion image based on the horizontal size of said monitor frame and thehorizontal size of said motion image frame, a second calculating unitfor calculating a vertical zoom magnification of said motion image basedon the vertical size of said monitor frame and the vertical size of saidmotion image frame, a zoom processing unit for performing reduction zoomprocessing on said motion image based on said horizontal zoommagnification and said vertical zoom magnification, and a reduced imagedisplay unit displaying a reduced motion image reduced by said zoomprocessing unit in said motion image frame.
 2. The digital cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein said reduced image display unit includes areduced motion image synthesizing unit for synthesizing said still imagewith said reduced motion image based on said motion image frame forminginstruction.
 3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein saidrecording unit includes a file generating unit for generating an imagefile added with a predetermined identifier, and a storing unit forstoring an image in said monitor frame in said image file.
 4. Thedigital camera according to claim 1, wherein said monitor also functionsas a view finder.
 5. A digital camera comprising: a first reproducingunit responsive to a reproduction instruction by an operator forreproducing a still image signal from a recording medium, a firstforming unit responsive to said reproduction instruction for forming astill image frame corresponding to a monitor frame on a memory, a firstwriting unit for writing said still image signal in said still imageframe, a first display unit for reading out said still image signal fromsaid memory for displaying a still image on a monitor, an image pickupunit for picking up an image of an object, a second forming unitresponsive to a motion image frame forming instruction by said operatorfor forming a motion image frame smaller than said still image frame insaid still image frame, a second writing unit for writing a motion imagesignal of said object picked up by said image pickup unit in said motionimage frame, a second display unit reading out a synthesized imagesignal of said still image signal and said motion image signal from saidmemory for displaying a synthesized image on said monitor, a secondreproducing unit responsive to a motion image frame moving instructionby said operator for reproducing said still image signal, a thirdwriting unit for writing said same still image signal into said stillimage frame, a motion image frame moving unit for moving said motionimage frame after said same still image signal is written, a fourthwriting unit for writing said motion image signal into the moved motionimage frame, a third display unit reading out a synthesized image signalof said same still image signal and said motion image signal from saidmemory for displaying a synthesized image on said monitor, and arecording unit responsive to a recording instruction by said operatorfor recording said synthesized image signal on said recording medium. 6.The digital camera according to claim 5, wherein said recording unitincludes a file generating unit for generating an image file added witha predetermined identifier, and a storing unit for storing saidsynthesized image signal in said image file.
 7. The digital cameraaccording to claim 5, wherein said monitor also functions as a viewfinder.
 8. A digital camera having a recording mode for recording athrough image picked up through an optical system, a reproducing modefor reproducing a recorded image, and an image synthesizing mode forgenerating a synthesized image of the through image and the reproducedimage, comprising: a mode switching unit switching said reproducing modeand said image synthesizing mode, a display unit displaying a reproducedimage when switched to a reproducing mode by said mode switching unit, asetting unit setting a through image display area on a part of areproduced image displayed by said image display unit when switched toan image synthesizing mode by said mode switching unit, an imagesynthesizing unit displaying a through image at the through imagedisplay area set by said setting unit to generate said synthesizedimage, and a recording unit recording the synthesized image generated atsaid image synthesizing unit, wherein said setting unit includes adrawing unit setting two crossing points between a horizontal line and avertical line at a part of the reproduced image displayed by said imagedisplay unit for drawing an outer frame of the through image displayarea, wherein said drawing unit notifies a user, when an aspect ratio ofthe outer frame of said through image display area attains a prescribedratio, of attaining the prescribed ratio.
 9. The digital cameraaccording to claim 8, wherein said setting unit includes a positionadjusting unit adjusting a position of the outer frame of the throughimage display area drawn by said drawing unit.